Seven Days Grace (A Grace Rose Novel Book 1) (15 page)

‘
A disguise? Like a movie star when she goes to the grocery store so no-one hassles her?
’
he asked.

‘
Exactly.
’

‘
I see. You know
,
you
’
re right. I have a long list of tourist stuff I need to be doing while I
’
m here. In fact
,
I
’
m exceptionally busy. I should head over to the office right now instead of having a
‘
sickie
’
like you, is that the word?, and do some work.
’

‘
You
’
re teasing me. And you
’
re having a long lunch
,
I
’
m having the sickie
,’
she said as she pushed him.

‘
Grace
,
I
’
d love to help you. It sounds fascinating and it won
’
t take much of my time. I can fit it in between my other jobs. This guy likes to meet at obscure hours which suits my schedule perfectly. Even with the disguise
,
I might be able to pick out some distinguishing features. The technology we have for this sort of work these days is astounding.
’

‘
Great.
’
He stared into her eyes and she turned away.
Be careful
,
take it slow.
‘
I don
’
t usually get anyone involved in my stories
,’
she gazed at the sea.

‘
There has to be a first time and I
’
m sure we
’
ll be a great team.
’

‘
Could you please not say anything to your friend
,
Christian? I haven
’
t told Kate or anyone at the office yet because these potential stories often lead to dead ends. In a news environment
,
if you don
’
t have the deal signed
,
sealed and delivered
,
you keep quiet.
’

‘
You bet. Mum
’
s the word
,’
Jake said.
‘
Are hard news stories your thing?
’

‘
Not necessarily. You do meet diverse people though. People can be evil
,
violent and angry. Then again
,
I
’
ve seen kindness
,
love and compassion. You meet people from all walks of life. I love it
,
especially when justice is served and victims are set free. I
’
m sure they go on to battle their own demons though
,
hopefully
,
we
’
ve helped them in some small way.

‘
The best thing about this job is when people are in the worst place of their lives and somehow it brings out the best in them. It renews my hope in mankind. Anyway
,
I
’
m getting all deep here.
’

‘
You sound as if you love your job. And no doubt it
’
s more fulfilling than sitting in a van taking pictures of strangers you
’
re trying to catch out doing the wrong thing. How long have you been at the newspaper?
’

‘
Ten years. Apart from my sojourn to London and New York. It
’
s gone fast. Anyway
,
enough about me
,’
Grace said

He laughed.
‘
It
’
s easier to be interested in others and I don
’
t like answering questions
,
I like asking them. It
’
s an occupational hazard.
’

‘
Too bad because my job
’
s the same. So
,
why are you in Sydney? I know it
’
s gotta be for more than catching those involved in cheating and fraudulent insurance claims.
’

‘
L
ike you said before
,
it
’
s complicated. Do you think you
’
ll be at
The Star
for another ten years?
’

‘
You
’
re changing the subject again. I
’
m curious as to why you
’
re being cagey
,’
she tried to read his face for clues.
‘
I
’
ll play it your way for now. Thing is
,
I don
’
t want to be at
The Star
for much longer. I
’
m applying for a position with Associated Press or AP as it
’
s commonly called. I want a job in south-east Asia.
’

‘
You
’
re full of surprises.
’

‘
I haven
’
t told anyone else yet.
’

‘
Ah
,
keeping it quiet. I
’
m sure
The Sydney Star
will be sad to lose you. And hey
,
here we are getting to know each other and you
’
re applying for a job in another country. I guess it
’
s based in Singapore or some equally glamorous location? Don
’
t go breaking my heart
,
Miss Grace.
’
  

‘
You can talk. What are you doing inviting me out and being all charming when you live in New York
,
huh? And it
’
s based in Bangkok actually.
’

‘
I
’
m not sure I have a smart retort
,
you win
,’
he gave her another grin.
‘
L
et
’
s go.
’

As they stood up
,
Grace decided to delve for more information. Perhaps this would shed some insight into this man of many sides.
‘
How do you get to work in Australia anyway? Is it easy for Americans to come here and work?
’

‘
My mother
’
s Australian. I have dual citizenship.
’

She considered his disclosure.
‘
When you met me in New York and realised I was Australian
,
wouldn
’
t you have said
,
‘
Hey
,
guess what? My Mum – ’’

‘
Sorry
,
Grace. I don
’
t know why I didn
’
t tell you. We guys have no excuse sometimes. Let
’
s grab a drink.
’

Why do I get the feeling he is being continually evasive?

Jake found a pub opposite the beach and steered Grace inside. At the bar he ordered two lemon
,
lime and bitters with mineral water.
‘
I believe you
’
ll find this refreshing. It
’
s mineral water not lemonade
,’
he said as he scanned the walls for a TV.

‘
Perfect.
’

When they settled themselves on some bar stools
,
they both looked at the TV. A broadcaster announced:

In breaking news: High-profile diamond and gem merchant
,
Antonio de Silva
,
was found dead in his harbour-side home at dawn this morning. Mrs de Silva looked for her husband after she woke early and discovered he was not in bed. She found him floating face down in their pool. Police and ambulance at the scene said Mr de Silva had a contusion to his head and was presumed to have drowned.

Mr de Silva
’
s court case was adjourned two days ago. He had been charged with embezzling diamonds into Australia and court was to resume in approximately two weeks. Police are investigating further.

Tears sprang in the corners of Grace
’
s eyes as she looked down at the floor in shock.

‘
Grace?
’

‘
I interviewed him yesterday morning at his home after the case was adjourned on Monday. It was a circus
,
media everywhere. I was the only journalist allowed to interview him. I think he knew he was going to die
,’
Grace said.

‘
How could he know?
’
Jake asked.

‘
The last thing he said when I left was
,
‘
I
’
ll see you on the other side
’
. It was such a weird thing to say. And he talked about a foreboding feeling. Jake
,
I
’
m going to head home. Nick will want a story on this right away and –
’

‘
I understand. I have to get back to the office
,
too. I promised Christian I
’
d meet up with him to finish off some work. Grace
,
I
’
m sorry. Did you know him well?
’

‘
No
,
not well. He
’
s been a source over the years for stories. It
’
s sad how it played out.
’

‘
L
et
’
s head back.
’

They caught the ferry home in a more subdued mood and Grace looked at him while he closed his eyes and breathed in the salty air. She was caught off guard. She was distracted by the de Silva news and her phone had already rung several times. She knew it would be Nick and she would talk to him when she got back to the city. However
,
she began to realise when adversity like this happened it was good to have someone by her side. He was open and had a stable demeanour. She finally put her finger on what it was. He cared. A rare quality she wasn
’
t sure she had found before in a man except for her father and one other man from a time long ago.

She chased away thoughts of getting to know him on a more personal level and determined in her mind not to get involved with someone who lived in another country and was only here temporarily. Grace placated herself with the idea she had made a good friend and perhaps even someone she could work with on future stories. He was a great find and she was grateful they had met.
And besides
,
he
’
s likely to break my heart into a hundred pieces.

The ferry docked at Circular Quay and Jake offered to take Grace home.

‘
I was going to walk along the foreshore anyway. I wouldn
’
t want to put you out
,’
she said.

‘
As if you
’
re
‘
putting me out
’
. I haven
’
t had enough fresh air today and could do with the exercise.
’

‘
That
’
s a lie.
’

‘
Okay
,
so you
’
re going to make me say it? Alright.
’
He took a deep breath.
‘
I would like more of your company and I can
’
t get enough of those glowing emerald eyes. So
,
which way
,
Miss Grace?
’